Commission agrees to perform school drainage repairs as schedule allows; debate surfaces over tree removal near campus

County public works presented maintenance requests from local schools, asking the commission to help with drainage and erosion repairs at Strong School (materials cost estimated at $16,110.60) and WS Harlan (materials estimated at $4,590.90). Staff said they would provide labor and equipment while schools would purchase materials; commissioners discussed timing, limits and safety.

"At Strong School, they would have to buy the $16,110.60 worth of materials to fix that erosion issue," the chair said, describing the scope as pipe installation and erosion control. Commissioners expressed concern about scope creep and competing with private contractors; one commissioner said, "I'm not comfortable with us removing a tree in close proximity to a school," citing worker safety and liability. Public Works said the county would use heavy equipment and not place staff in harm's way; the commission voted to do the work 'as we can get to it' with itemized scope and school payment for materials.